Sehwag unconcerned by form

Virender Sehwag in batting action © Getty Images

Stand-in captain Virender Sehwag shrugged off concerns of his own form ahead of Wednesday’s sixth one-day international against England.

Sehwag, who leads India for the fourth time as Rahul Dravid is resting for the Keenan Stadium clash, has endured a desperate struggle against England’s attack throughout the tour.

The 27-year-old mustered only 95 runs in six Test innings - including an unbeaten 76 at Mohali - and has scored only 74 in the four limited-overs contests to date.

Pressure has been growing on Sehwag, whose previous prowess earned spots in the World XI for both Test and one-day matches in last year’s Super Series, to end the rot in the shorter form of the game.

But he insisted: “I’m not really too concerned about my own form.

“I have been batting well in the nets and even in the matches I have got starts, making 20s and 30s, but failed to go on and get a big one.

“I’m confident it will only take one big innings to get back in form. I’m hopeful tomorrow (Wednesday) I can convert it in a big way.”

Virender Sehwag has not enjoyed a good series so far

Conditions will certainly drain anyone that does occupy the crease for a lengthy spell with the ground expected to be a furnace.

Temperatures both here and Indore, the venue for Saturday’s seventh and final contest, are expected to exceed 45 degrees centigrade.

“We are used to it, it is hot all over India at this time of the year,” Sehwag said. “It will be a little more difficult for England, who may not have seen such heat.

“It’s already 44 degrees and tomorrow (Wednesday), when the crowd comes in, it will feel like 54.”

The atmosphere may also be hostile with protests expected at the exclusion of Sourav Ganguly from the squad.

Although India have comprehensively beaten the tourists without former captain Ganguly, this part of India, close to his Bengal base, has rebelled.

Fans have taken to the streets and burnt effigies of coach Greg Chappell and chairman of selectors Kiran More.

Without Dravid, Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, youth has been given its head in the forerunner to next year’s World Cup.

“Of course, there is a shift in generation,” Sehwag said. “That has always been the case.

“First we had the Sunil Gavaskar era, then the Sachin Tendulkar era.

“Now more and more youngsters are coming in, so things keep changing.

“We have been dependent on Sourav, Sachin and Rahul for a while, now the burden is on the youngsters. It will be a difficult task, but hopefully, we will do well.”